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Censoring Books
- Thread starter Kenshi
- Start date
I'm not an advocate of censorship. My reading was never restricted in any way when I was a kid, and I didn't suffer for it. I think that most kids aren't interested in "grown up" reading anyway - I liked pretty much just liked children's books when I was a child. If there's to be any censorship, I think the parents should do it, rather than putting the burden on schools or anyone else. Otherwise, it brings up the whole issue of who is going to do the censoring, and whose agenda is going to be followed, and that's scary to me.
Of course, I grew up at a time when kids were allowed to play in the street all day with no supervision and before people felt like the world had to be such a sanitzed place.
Of course, I grew up at a time when kids were allowed to play in the street all day with no supervision and before people felt like the world had to be such a sanitzed place.
MonkeyCatcher
New Member
I agree - if a child is old enough to uderstand and want to read the book then I think that it is ok that they read it. I also was not censored on what I read and it didn't harm me (well at least I don't think so 
)
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dolphinfire30
New Member
I agree that it should be up to the parents to do the censoring. I think some people get carried away with what the try to sheild children from. My theory is that if you try to hide it from your child they will find some other way to get it.
Motokid
New Member
Censor is probably not the correct word for what you are talking about. It sounds like you are asking why there is not some kind of rating system for books like there is for movies? Or like the parental warning labels on music cd and video games.
I personally see nothing wrong with the idea. There are many parents who don't pay attention to what their kids are doing. Many probably figure if the kid is reading that's just great even though they have no idea what the kid is reading.
I don't think a 12 year old should be reading highly erotic, highly homophobic, or highly violent material. Just because a child has an interest in reading a Penthouse Forum type publication because he/she found it on the ground somewhere is no reason to just let him/her read it. You don't let a child smoke a cigarette because there's interest in it do you? You don't take a child to see an X rated movie because there's interest in it do you? I don't take my kids to R rated movies, and at least my 12 year old thinks she wants to go to them because the commercials for them are all over every tv channel.
Guess what....I feel there's plenty of time for older, more grown up material regardless of the type of media it is...I want my children to be children for as long as possible. I don't think any child, should be able to read any book, just because they want to. There has to be some parental involvement and some parental guidance, and maybe some parental censoring. I'm pretty sure I would not let my 12 year old daughter read some of the books lenny_nero has been reviewing in another section of this forum.
I think having some kind of rating system, or warning labels on books is a perfectly acceptable idea.
I personally see nothing wrong with the idea. There are many parents who don't pay attention to what their kids are doing. Many probably figure if the kid is reading that's just great even though they have no idea what the kid is reading.
I don't think a 12 year old should be reading highly erotic, highly homophobic, or highly violent material. Just because a child has an interest in reading a Penthouse Forum type publication because he/she found it on the ground somewhere is no reason to just let him/her read it. You don't let a child smoke a cigarette because there's interest in it do you? You don't take a child to see an X rated movie because there's interest in it do you? I don't take my kids to R rated movies, and at least my 12 year old thinks she wants to go to them because the commercials for them are all over every tv channel.
Guess what....I feel there's plenty of time for older, more grown up material regardless of the type of media it is...I want my children to be children for as long as possible. I don't think any child, should be able to read any book, just because they want to. There has to be some parental involvement and some parental guidance, and maybe some parental censoring. I'm pretty sure I would not let my 12 year old daughter read some of the books lenny_nero has been reviewing in another section of this forum.
I think having some kind of rating system, or warning labels on books is a perfectly acceptable idea.
dolphinfire30
New Member
the problem is that even though there is censorship, kids still can get access to these things. Just because a kid sees that something says he can't read it doesn't mean they wont. Sure there should be some way for parents to know that what their kids are reading shouldn't be read by them, but it should be the parents responsibility to make sure they don't. Don't you remember being a child and how easy it was to get those, censored things. I may be 31, but I still remember. You can censor books, you can ban books, but kids will still find a way to get them.
novella
Active Member
Kenshi said:
Kenshi, what exactly would you want to censor and why? I think they should start with the dictionary, as that is the first book most kids look up foul and sexual words in. Then maybe the newpapers, because of all that sex and violence. Or are you thinking Harry Potter, in line with the pope's thinking?
Parents should just be more involved in what their children do rather than having someone else tell them whether the content of something is too mature for their child.
A warning label isn't going to tell me what bad words are used, how much their used, or even the context in which they are used. The news is riddled with violence, so is the newspaper. The saturday morning cartoons are also riddled with violence and no one thinks anything of it. How many people here remember watching Tom & Jerry? So what kind of violence does a label warn me off: cartoon, news, typical school yard violence?
The context in which language and violence is used is of far more concern to me than just the fact that it is used. The only way I can know whether something is appropriate for my child and my way of raising him is for me to be actively aware of what he's reading, watching, playing, and listening to.
I don't look at labels on music, movies, or games. I doubt I'd pay attention if they started labeling books too.
A warning label isn't going to tell me what bad words are used, how much their used, or even the context in which they are used. The news is riddled with violence, so is the newspaper. The saturday morning cartoons are also riddled with violence and no one thinks anything of it. How many people here remember watching Tom & Jerry? So what kind of violence does a label warn me off: cartoon, news, typical school yard violence?
The context in which language and violence is used is of far more concern to me than just the fact that it is used. The only way I can know whether something is appropriate for my child and my way of raising him is for me to be actively aware of what he's reading, watching, playing, and listening to.
I don't look at labels on music, movies, or games. I doubt I'd pay attention if they started labeling books too.
mehastings
Active Member
Kenshi said:
That isn't entirely true at some book stores. I worked in a Waldenbooks and kids weren't allowed to buy the following: High Times Magazine, porn magazines, gun magazines, books about sex, or books about satanism (this last one I sortof question) without a parent.
The sex books were kept on a special shelf near the register and the specialty magazines were in the store room. This was so kids couldn't steal them either. Books on satanism were special order only.
The porn and sex books are 18+ to buy by law. The rest of it was all company policy. If Waldens does it Borders probably does too. I don't know about B&N and private shops though.
AnnaRenae86
New Member
Kenshi said:
I think if parents think their child is old enough to go into a movie theater or bookstore and pick out what they want to read..and the parent doesnt think it necessary to make sure the material is suitable... then they're giving the child permission to watch/read whatever they want.
Motokid
New Member
The question being asked needs to be made clear. If a parent thinks a child is ready for something, then the parent can let the child have it....that goes for books, music, fireworks, smoking, porno, drugs, guns, motorcycles, cars, money.....
What is being asked here? Should a child (and please define what "child" means) be able to buy any book, regardless of content, with or without a parent present?
Should a librarian or store check-out person be able to refuse the purchase of a book based on the books content, and the age of the person trying to buy the book?
I am now lost as to what the original question is, or what it's intent was.
What is being asked here? Should a child (and please define what "child" means) be able to buy any book, regardless of content, with or without a parent present?
Should a librarian or store check-out person be able to refuse the purchase of a book based on the books content, and the age of the person trying to buy the book?
I am now lost as to what the original question is, or what it's intent was.
Wolhay
New Member
Sweden does not have any age restrictions when it comes to books, there aren't any restrictions for purchasing movies, games or magazines either. It's up to the vendor to make the judgement.
Personally I think that's just dandy.
If parents have given a child confidence to to spend money freely then the child should be able to do so.
If someone have enough confidence to step up to a desk and purchase or loan "risky" material then they're probably not damaged too much by it since the seed of ruin already has been planted in the mind.
Of course libraries in Stockholm now have self serving machines that removes the human interaction but you have to be older than 16 or have the permission from a legal guardian to get a library card in the first place.
Personally I think that's just dandy.
If parents have given a child confidence to to spend money freely then the child should be able to do so.
If someone have enough confidence to step up to a desk and purchase or loan "risky" material then they're probably not damaged too much by it since the seed of ruin already has been planted in the mind.
Of course libraries in Stockholm now have self serving machines that removes the human interaction but you have to be older than 16 or have the permission from a legal guardian to get a library card in the first place.